The rise of the mobile phone has challenged the predictions that many information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) specialists offered about information in the developing world. Instead of embracing community solutions that offered shared access to information, many poor people have been willing to pay large sums and others have documented, sometimes more than 50% of their disposable income) for personal access to communication tools.
Presented with a model that extends connectivity into many poor communities without government subsidy, often turning a profit (and thus being sustainable), the development community is rightly looking for ways to build tools that leverage these platforms to promote economic and community development.
The rise of the mobile phone has challenged the predictions that many information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) specialists offered about information in the developing world. Instead of embracing community solutions that offered shared access to information, many poor people have been willing to pay large sums and others have documented, sometimes more than 50% of their disposable income) for personal access to communication tools.
Presented with a model that extends connectivity into many poor communities without government subsidy, often turning a profit (and thus being sustainable), the development community is rightly looking for ways to build tools that leverage these platforms to promote economic and community development.
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